Do you have a sense of discernment and intuition? (72-5)
No leader can enjoy success without developing a healthy sense of discernment and intuition. Read Numbers 22:21-35.
Balaam lacked both discernment and intuition about what was happening around him. Balaam angered God because he disobeyed what he knew (or should have known) to be right. It actually took an angel standing in Balaam’s path to stop him. Balaam lacked the discernment to see the angel’s blockade and even whipped his donkey, who had more discernment than Balaam, for responding to the angel.
Unfortunately many leaders today suffer from the same plight. There are several factors that conspire to keep leaders from discerning leadership needs. Some of the most common factors are:
- Many leaders pack the schedule so tight that there is no room for listening. Discernment requires listening.
- Leaders often drive an agenda they want God to bless rather than seek the agenda that blesses God. This forces them to have a stubborn heart rather than a sensitive heart.
- Type-A leaders have a temperament that makes it difficult to slow down and discern.
- Leaders are often task oriented and leave little time for relationships or spontaneity and both make discernment more readily accessible.
- Leaders often desire to solve spiritual and emotional problems with external answers rather than tapping into their internal instincts.
For a leader to develop discernment skills they must look past the obvious; they must listen and interpret the root causes of the challenges they face. They need to be able to understand their “gut” reaction and also tap into the knowledge and understanding. Discernment takes both godly intuition and intellect.
Proverbs 3:21 “My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.
June 5th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
You said, “Leaders are often task oriented and leave little time for relationships or spontaneity and both make discernment more readily accessible”
I hope that I don’t miss the theme of your blog; but there are very few leaders anymore. My experience has been that the managers in the corporate world who sell their souls to the corporate entity are horrible leaders. They work 70 hours a week and think that is ok while their families and other important parts of their lives suffer. So, what I have seen is simply those who drive others. The have sold themselves to the company so they think they need to pass on their martyrdom attitude to the workers. Guess that’s why I don’t fit into corporate America.